6th Grade Course Description and Artifacts

In the sixth grade, students rotate through nine different short courses (about seven class sessions apiece), including three related to technology. The three tech sections are titled Computer Applications, Computer Literacy and Living Online.

Computer Applications

Computer Literacy

In this short course, students deepen their understanding of how computers work through both "unplugged" and computer-based activities and games. The sequence of study is as follows:

How is a computer like a kitchen? (Basic componenents and terminology)
How do computers represent information? (Transistors and binary numbers)
How do computers store text? (Bytes, measurement of storage, ASCII code)
How do computers represent pictures? (Pixels, resolution)
How do computers represent sound? (Digitization, sound wave sampling)
How can we solve problems with computers? (Algorithms, programming)

(time permitting)

How does the internet work? (Networks, addresses, packet switching)
Can computers be intelligent? (Artificial intelligence, game playing strategies)

Living Online

7th Grade Course Description and Artifacts

This semester-long course inspires students to exercise both the creative and logical hemispheres of the brain. By completing fun and challenging projects, students will use their imaginations, hone their planning and problem solving skills, learn how to use many of the nuanced tools that computers provide, and discover fundamental concepts of computer science. Included in the course are three computer languages—HTML, Logo, and Scratch—which provide a basis in programming. A robotics project will allow them to explore the ways computers can influence their real-world surroundings. Students will also explore media computation: they will create graphic art using drawing and painting tools, and learn the art and science of frame-by-frame animation.

Programming (Mr. Mathews)

Graphics with Logo
Logo is a programming language with a graphical emphasis. Students continue the exploration of Logo that they began in the Lower School. They learn programming techniques and concepts fundamental to all study of computer science, including procedural abstraction, repetition, parameters, and functional decomposition. Students rely on their creativitity, logical thought, and planning to develop problem-solving skills.

Storytelling with HTML
In this unit, students learn how websites are constructed. They learn HTML, the computer language that describes the content of a web page, and use it to create their own original "choose your own adventure"-style stories. Included topics are text layout, images, links, tables, and basic CSS formatting commands.

Games and animation with Scratch
Scratch is an environment that encourages students to explore the dynamic nature of programming by creating animated scenes and games.